Cylinder lock



Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

STATES JOHANNES CRONING, OF HAMBURG, GERMANY.

CYLINDER LOCK.

Application filed July 28, 1920.

Serial No. 399,187.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1921, 11 STAT. L,1313.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHANNES CRONING, a subject of the GermanRepubliqand resident of Hamburg, Germany, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in or Relating to Cylinder Locks (for whichapplications have been filed in Germany March 22, 1919, Patent No.337,237; in Belgium July 10th, 1920, Patent No. 289,216; in England Jlily-9th, 1920, Patent No. 148,136; in France July 8th, 1920, Patent No.519,473; and in Switzerland June 26th, 1920, Patent No. 89,383), ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide a lock of the cylinder type inwhich the greatest possible simplicity of construction in both thetumbler (or plug) 7 cylinder and the cylindrical case is combined with aminimum ofplay for the key notches. With this object, the tumbler pins,which are made in one piece as usual and are housed, together with theirsprings, in the tumbler cylinder, are either slightly off-set or elsestraight, in

' which latter event they are provided with a projecting lateral lug toengage with the key, as is well known in connection with cylinder lockshaving divided tumblers.

Tumbler pins adapted to turn on their own axes must be rounded offspherically at their ends that lie at the line of intersection betweenthe cylinder and cylinder case, in accordance with the curvaturedetermined by the diameter of the cylinder. IVhen the right key is used,the pairs of pins lie, when in the release position, with their contactpoints inthe peripheral surface of the lock cylinder. The contact pointof the pairs of pins may, however, lie below the peripheral surface ofthe lock cylinder by a distance equal to the radius of curvature of therounded portion, since, on the cylinder being rotated, the upper tumblerpin in that case will only rise instead of lock. Since this radius ofcurvature is always only a few tenths of a millimetre, all keys that arewithin this limit and are smaller than the ri ht key, can be used toopen the lock.

0 obviate this defect, the tumbler pins are prevented, by suitable meansor by shaping, from turning on their own axis, so that, in the releaseposition, their end surfaces are flush with the peripheral surface ofthe lock cylinder.

The drawing illustrates several methods of carrying out the subject ofthe invention.

F 1g. 1 is a vertical section through the lock case and the cylinder.Fig. 2 is a section A-B of Fig. l,

t Fig. 3 shows the tumblers in the set posi- Fig. 4 illustrates amodification.

The cylinder 1 is rotatably mounted in the stationary case 2. In Figs.1, 2 and 3, each of the tumblers consists of the off-set tumbler pins 3and the tumbler springs a. The tumbler pins 3 are adapted to slideaxially in two parallel bores and a corresponding recess. Whereas thebore, for example the one on the right, extends entirely through thecylinder, the adjacent hole, in the extension of which the key slot 5 issituated, is not bored entirely through. The under ledge formed by theoffset of the tumbler pin 3, serves to engage with the key and to limitthe downward travel of the pin 3. The upper ledge formed by the off-setserves as abutment for the tumbler spring 4. The upper abutment for thespring 4: is formed by a small plate 6, which at the same time acts as alateral guide for the pin 3.

The modification in Fig. 4L has straight pins 3, the top ends of whichare of reduced diameter in order to accommodate the springs 1. Anoff-set in the form of a lug 11, which is firmly secured to the tumblerpin 3 and is adapted to slide in the slot 10 serves to prevent therotation of the pin and to engage with the key.

The cylindrical lock case 2 is provided with holes 7 and 8 in the lineof prolongation of the cylinder bores. Since the tumbler pins 3 areprevented from turning on their axis, their free ends are flush with theperipheral surface of the cylinder when in cylinder release position(Fig. 3). This circumstance determines the total length of each tumblerpin. In the position of repose (Figs. 1, 2 and 4;) the upper and lowerparts of the tumbler pins 3 are of different heights. They are liftedaccordingly by the key, in known manner, to bring them into the releaseposition.

If a tumbler has not been sufficiently lifted one end will remain partlyin the bore 8 of the lock case, whereas if one has been lifted too farthe other end will project into the bore 7 of the lock case.

Other modifications are also possible. The essential feature of theinvention consists in that the straight or slightly off-set tumbler pinsare made in one piece and are housed in the tumbler cylinderexclusively, and in that, in order to reduce the play of the key notchesto a minimum the tumbler pins are prevented, from rotating either byshaping or by the provision of suitable means.

What I claim is 1. A lock, comprising a stationary sleeve and arotatable cylinder therein having transverse bores registrable at bothends with perforations in said sleeve, spring urged straight one-piecepins in said bores having integral, lateral lugs thereon, formingoff-sets for the engagement of a key and capable of entering theperforations and a plate in said cylinder for retaining saidspring-urged'pins.

3. A look comprising a stationary casing having perforationstherethrough on opposite sides of a diameter, a rotatable onepiececylinder in said casing havingbores, single piece tumbler pins mountedin said bores, a compression spring for each tumbler, a plate mounted insaid cylinder common to said springs to hold the springs and tumblers inthe cylinder and a key engaging oif-seton each tumbler whereby saidtumblers normally engagein one set of perforations on one side ofthediameter and engage another set'of casing perforations on theopposite side of said diameter when an improper key is used, saidtumbler pins With their off-sets being freely 'inserte'dfin saidcylinder When said plate is removed.v

' i. A lock comprising a] stationary casing having perforationstherethrough on opposite sides of a diameter, a, rotatable cylinder insaid casing having straightbores therethrough, a tumbler pin in eachbore.

having a reduced end, a spring on such reduced end, aplate in, thecylinder holding said springs and through whichjsaid re.- dnced endspass to engage perforations.- in the cylinder, the opposite ends of saidtumblers being arranged also to engage perforations in the casing.

I Signed by me at Hamburg this 1. (first) day of July, 1920. c

JoHANNE-s GRONING.

